UTEP GAME COMMENTS

[Diehard Pony]

First, Youngalumpony, you have a lot to learn. When you have attended games on a regular basis for 35 years as I have, including 9 years of disappointment and boring style from Mike Dement, then I might consider your suggestion that I should not be allowed to comment on a game for having missed a couple of games. You don't have a clue about how many fans like me are completely gone from the program, and have been for years as a function of the ineptitude of the program for the last 15 years. I am one of two people that used to be a large group that bought basketball and football season tickets in a block for a couple of decades. Now, perhaps you have gained some insight....perhaps not. My apologies to the others on the board for taking up so much space.

As for Pony_Fan's request, here are my comments:

1) I was entertained, and that is a great starting point.
2) Lineburg was animated in a positive way all night, and was consistently patting players for good effort.
3) Lineburg used the rest of his coaching staff like all the other coaches in the country do. Huddle up at a time out, and then meet the team with a game plan. What a novel concept.
4) No die in the team tonight. An excellent effort by everybody on the team. Great hustle. Did not lay down and die when UTEP had them down big a couple of times. (By the way, UTEP is one of the best teams I have seen this season).
5) Bhop played the best I have seen him play in a long time. Shot very well, and penetrated to score against a tough defense.
6) Isham returned from the offensive dead, and looked very much like he did at the first of the season. He hit 4 three pointers tonight.
7) If Simpson has a better night shooting the ball, we win the game.
Crowd support was moderate as to size, but very vocal from the beginning, and the continued effort of the team kept it there till the end.
9) Final score somewhat misleading (10 points), as we had it down to five when Bhop took a 3 pointer with a little more than a minute to play that rimmed out.
10) Much more uptempo style of offense (hey, more than 70 points).
11) Switched defenses between man and various zones.
12) All in all, I was impressed and entertained tonight. Hats off to the team and the "new" coaching staff.

P.S. Big UTEP turnout tonight. I hope they come to C-USA with us rather than La. Tech.

[DickerJames]

Excellent recap of the game. If we had played this way Thursday nite, we definetly don't get blown out and we probably win. We made Boise look like the Lakers, but Boise is no UTEP. The miners are leading the WAC for good reason. I LOVED the way Lineburg handled the game and himself. Every time we got a questionable call or unfortunate turnover, he never missed a beat and kept the guys focused on the game. His player substitutions were overall very good, and I think Bennent is going to be very good. I really wish the trigger had been pulled sooner so we could have seen more of Lineburg. I think we have just become the team the top seeds in the WAC tourney will not want to play.

Kudos to the coaches and players for a great effort tonight and fun game to watch.

[DickerJames]

Couple more comments about tonight. UTEP had a huge contingent of fans at the game that made the game atmosphere great. I think C-USA should add an Eastern team for the 12th member, but if they go West then UTEP is the only choice in my opinion. On a down note, we have the worst cheerleading group in Div. I. Whoever is in charge needs to follow Dement out the door.

[couch 'em]

On a down note, we have the worst cheerleading group in Div. I. Whoever is in charge needs to follow Dement out the door.

I just wish they'd show up a little earlier than 2 minutes before tipoff, and would show up dressed, not half in their outfit. Just looks sloppy when they are dragging in next to UTEP's cheerleaders.

[youngalumpony]

First off, it was nice to see the team play hard tonight, if they play like that the rest of the year they will at least have a chance to have some success. It was very dissapointing, however, that UTEP totally outclassed SMU. Their fans were better, their cheerleaders made ours look like they were in jr. high, and their team was better.

Diehard Pony: I'm sorry for being [deleted] you, and I'm not surprised that you are a long-time SMU supporter. It just really turns me off when you pretty much say that these teams are no longer worthy of your consistant support. You're right, there are alot of people that are completely gone from the program, that's one of the reasons we often get outnumbered by opposing fans in our own gym. I'm glad that you used to buy large blocks of tickets when it was easy to support this program, but today is when we really need the support. But maybe I just don't get it.....

[MustangSally]

How come UTEP brings in 12 cheerleaders from El Paso to Moody, but we have only 6 or 7 of our own at home? Do ours ever travel (remember that 'neutral site' OSU game on national TV two months ago? I saw plenty of OSU cheerleaders but none from SMU) Also, notice UTEP's cheer squad went and did a stunt/pyramid routine every timeout on the court. Ours often roll their eyes when the band strikes up Pony Battle Cry with a look of 'ugh not again' on their faces. UTEP's cheerleaders actually *gasp* led cheers. We had one guy with a megaphone tonight trying his heart out, but what's the deal. I feel like our cheerleaders have no feeling for the flow of the game or even ideas of what to yell. By the way, the excuse I heard for why there was only one of our guy cheerleaders there is that the rest of them were 'drunk as [deleted]'. Great...can't wait until the WAC Tournament. That's when they get all serious and have to pretend like they know what they are doing.

Its not that hard, show up at least 20 minutes before tipoff IN UNIFORM, pay attention to the game, and try to get the crowd into it.

[RGV Pony]

When I last lived in Dallas-97/98-I remember the dance team was at every game, sitting on the baseline...in addition to the band, cheerleaders, etc. SMU was also on ESPN more then-I remember going to the 'pajama party' 10pm games. Don't the cheerleaders get tuition breaks or something? If they do, that needs to stop for this crew.

Question is, who was the entity who said wait, here's an idea, let's tell the dance team to stop coming, stop telling the cheerleaders to act like they give a sh*t, and that'll be a good idea!?

[LA_Mustang]

Our new coach will definitely inherit some talent. With a solid recruiting class and 4 starters coming back, we have the potential to compete with the best in the WAC next season. As someone said earlier, we need a coach that the players will respect and will make playing basketball fun again. It seemed last night that all of the guys had a huge weight lifted of their shoulders. That was damn good UTEP team that we almost beat. Unfortunately for UTEP, I don’t think they’re going to be able to keep Gillispie around long. One of the big boys will come calling for him very soon.

[couch 'em]

By the way, the excuse I heard for why there was only one of our guy cheerleaders there is that the rest of them were 'drunk as [deleted]'.

Being drunk is no excuse not to come. At least they'll probably be more animated and into cheering and such.

[Hoop Fan]

I have several miscellaneous thoughts on last night. First, I thought the team played hard and together. Isham came out of his shell, making you believe there must have been something up with he and Dement. I thought Lineburg did a very respectable job and I applaud him for his changing defenses. He used the 1-3-1 as a changeup, which seems like the best way to use it to me. Lineburg did a good job. Having said that, I was honestly disappointed in the loss. I know Utep is good, but I thought we would play better at home with a burst of emotion. No matter who coaches, our rebounding is still atrocious. Utep got several third and fourth shots on offensive rebounds. Thats just not gonna work. We obviously don't box out very well. All in all, maybe there was too much emotion last night and maybe the Utep fans helped keep our team from getting comfortable. I saw enough body language from the players and good things from Lineburg that there is still some hope down the stretch.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

Question is, who was the entity who said wait, here's an idea, let's tell the dance team to stop coming, stop telling the cheerleaders to act like they give a sh*t, and that'll be a good idea!?

The Dance Squad all but decided last year that they weren't going to show up for B-Ball games this year. Why? Couldn't tell you. Honestly, I could care less about them. They were so apathetic as it was, I figure why bother having them there if they don't even want to be there in the first place? So much for school spirit.

[PlanoStang]

Disband the dance squad, use the MONEY for track. Haven't heard any of those dog faced cows making the Olympics lately

[Pony4Life]

How come UTEP brings in 12 cheerleaders from El Paso to Moody, but we have only 6 or 7 of our own at home? Do ours ever travel (remember that 'neutral site' OSU game on national TV two months ago? I saw plenty of OSU cheerleaders but none from SMU) Also, notice UTEP's cheer squad went and did a stunt/pyramid routine every timeout on the court. Ours often roll their eyes when the band strikes up Pony Battle Cry with a look of 'ugh not again' on their faces. UTEP's cheerleaders actually *gasp* led cheers. We had one guy with a megaphone tonight trying his heart out, but what's the deal. I feel like our cheerleaders have no feeling for the flow of the game or even ideas of what to yell. By the way, the excuse I heard for why there was only one of our guy cheerleaders there is that the rest of them were 'drunk as [deleted]'. Great...can't wait until the WAC Tournament. That's when they get all serious and have to pretend like they know what they are doing.

Its not that hard, show up at least 20 minutes before tipoff IN UNIFORM, pay attention to the game, and try to get the crowd into it.

I'd like to nominate MustangSally to be the new director of the spirit squads at SMU. Sounds like a leader with an understanding of what spirit squads actually are for.

[youngalumpony]

I'm not sure if he wants the job or not, but you're right pony4life, he would do a great job. Actually, MustangSally is a member of my favorite spirit group, the Mustang Band, but I am biased

[Spaz]

Being drunk is no excuse not to come. At least they'll probably be more animated and into cheering and such.

Never stopped me from attending a game.

And BTW, I'm right there by the cheerleaders and I've never seen them roll their eyes. In fact, they usually ask what we're playing next and plan accordingly. I'd DEFINATLY say that this is the best year for band/cheerleader relations since I've been here. I remember that they seperated busses to Tulsa Sophomore year cuz there was such a problem with us on the same bus freshman year.
They're still not the best cheerleaders to ever cheer, but I'd take them over our past iterations anyday.